Cass County 4-H Monthly Newsletter
February 2017
Nebraska 4-H Month
February is "Nebraska 4-H Month." What can you do to help promote 4-H? What ideas do you have to tell the story of 4-H and what an awesome program it is for kids and families?
Hosting a membership drive for your club, wearing 4-H apparel to school, posting 4-H project pictures on twitter, instagram, and facebook, writing an article for the newspaper or other on-line newsletters, making a 4-H themed Valentine box, and posting a sign in your yard....just to name a few!
Thanks for helping us promote 4-H!
Answer: YES! Everyone (Clover Kids, 4-Hers, leaders, and volunteers) have to re-enroll.
When: Now is the time! Go to ne.4HOnline.com and re-enroll for 2017.
Another Opportunity for 4-H Leader/Volunteer Training
4-H Fund Raising Guidelines
Sympathies to the family of Gene Sisco
We extend sympathies to the family of Gene Sisco, who passed away on Friday, January 20, 2017. Gene was our dependable auctioneer for many years at the Cass County Fair Livestock Auction, and he will be deeply missed.
Speech Contest
Each spring, Cass County holds a 4-H Public Speaking Contest. This is a great contest to help youth develop skills in
· Communication—expressing themselves on topics of current issues to real audiences,
· Organization—learning how to arrange their thoughts to say something (prepare a speech)
· Delivery Skills—learning how to present themselves and their ideas to others, and
· Self-confidence—becoming confident in who they are and how they can express themselves.
This year’s Speech Contest will be held is April 17, 2017 in the meeting room of the Cass County Extensin Office.
Would you like to see a guide for developing a great speech? Check out this document: http://4h.unl.edu/documents/guidetomakinggreatspeeches.pdf
4-H Horse Stampede
Livestock Quality Assurance
Attention 4-H and FFA Livestock Producers
- The Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) will affect all food animals producers across the United States beginning on January 1, 2017. Though much of the information has gotten out to the producers in Nebraska and Nationally, there is still many livestock producers including 4-H and FFA youth livestock participants that are NOT very informed about the FDA Regulations.
- Nebraska Extension and Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance partnership has developed a webpage with information and a number of resources for the livestock industry. A lot is geared toward beef cattle, however the general information relates to all food producing animals. Below is a direct link to the information.
- For more information, visit: NE BQA Veterinary Feed Directive: http://bqa.unl.edu/veterinary-feed-directive or call Rob Eirich, Nebraska Extension Educator,Director of Beef Quality Assurance at 308.632.1230.
Scholarships for Cass County 4-H Seniors
Deadline March 1, 2017
Two $250 scholarships will be awarded to high school seniors with plans to continue their formal education following graduation from a Cass County high school. The applicants must meet the following criteria: Plan to attend an accredited trade school or college; minimum 3.0 PSA; Involvement in school and community activities; Enrolled in the 4-H program through Cass County, NE; Return a completed application to the Cass County Extension Office by March 1, 2017. The Freel/Lepert 4-H Family Scholarship application is online.
Deadline March 15, 2017
The Nebraska Association of County Extension Boards (NACEB) Scholarship Program offers scholarships for the current academic year. Scholarship Includes: One $1,000 scholarship at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) or in the College of Education and Human Sciences (CEHS) for an incoming student (freshmen or transfer student) | One $500 scholarship for a current student (sophomore or higher) enrolled in CASNR or CEHS. The NACEB application is available on-line.
Deadline April 1, 2017
This is a local Cass County Scholarship, presented by one of our very own Cass County 4-H Clubs—The Weeping Water Whiz Kidz. Applicants must be a senior who is a Cass County resident and who has actively participated in the Cass County 4-H program at least not not limited to, two of his/her high school years. The application is available on-line.
Spring Rabbit Show
2017 4-H Companion Animal Challenge
The Power of Wind Art Show
We’re announcing this now so those who are interested have time to prepare. There will be a “Power of Wind Art Show” April 24-29, 2017 at the Kimmel Education & Research Center. Youth are encouraged to enter. Exhibits should be original, whether it’s artwork or written work, and should illustrate or represent how wind is used for energy (for example, windmill, wind turbine, pinwheel, etc) The event is co-sponsored by the Kregel Windmill Factory Museum and UNL Kimmel Education Research Center. More Power of Wind information can be found on our website.
Pheasants Forever
Each year, Pheasants Forever hosts a free mentored hunting experience for kids who have completed Hunter Education. The youth get to spend a day participating in some different outdoor activities, hunting pheasants, having a cook out, and spending time in the great outdoors! Participants do not need to have experience, they just need to have taken Hunter Education classes. Pheasants Forever wants youth who are new to the sport and are interested in trying it out, but might not have an adult figure who has experience.
Interested in attending? Visit their website for information. http://nebraskapf.com/youth-mentor-hunts/.
Need Hunter Education classes? Visit their website: https://www.register-ed.com/programs/69
Youth Corn Challenge 2017
Another awesome opportunity for 4-Hers:
Read about the 2017 Youth Corn Challenge at http://extension.unl.edu/statewide/buffalo/innovative-youth-corn-challenge/ The 2017 corn challenge is open to 4-H members (age 10 & older as of Jan 1st) or FFA members (in-school members), guides participants through all aspects of corn production, as well as agricultural acreers related to corn production.
9th Annual Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic Livestock Judging Contest
It is time to start thinking about the Ninth Annual Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic livestock judging contest. The contest will be held on Saturday, February 25th at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds in Kearney, NE. We are in the process of putting together a superior contest with outstanding quality and great teaching opportunities for future contests.
Communication
4-H Friday NewsBlast: News Blasts are sent every Friday. They are sent to the email address(es) you supply us with in ne.4HOnline.com.
Newsletters: Monthly newsletters are sent to you by email. They are also available on the home page of ne.4HOnline.com. If you need a paper copy, you need to notify the Extension Office.
Facebook: "like us" on facebook and see what's up!
Twitter: Follow us on twitter at @UNLCassCounty
Contact us!
Nebraska Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United Sates Department of Agriculture.
Nebraska Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.
Email: cass-county@unl.edu
Website: www.cass.unl.edu
Location: 8400 144th Street, Weeping Water, NE, United States
Phone: (402) 267-2205
Facebook: facebook.com/UniversityofNebraskaExtensionCassCounty
Twitter: @UNLCassCounty
Calendar of Events
February
1-28 is Nebraska 4-H Month
13th - 4-H Leader/Volunteer training at Kimmel (if you missed the Cass Co training)
20th - Office Closed for Presidents' Day Holiday
23rd - Pesticide Training 9:30 and 1:00 sessions
March
1st - Registration Deadline for 2017 for 4-H enrollments
Private Pesticide Training held in Cass County
- Thursday, February 24, 2017 at 9:30 and 1:00 (Come to one session, not both)
- Wednesday, March 22 at 9:30 a.m.
Training sessions will be held in the Cass County Fairgrounds Expo Building. No preregistration is required.
If you received a letter in the mail from NDA containing a bar-code form identifying you, please bring this with you - it makes the application process much simpler and faster than filling in the "bubble" form.
More information on Private Users Pesticide Training can be found at: http://pested.unl.edu/